The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1887-04-24
BEATEN BY MYSTIC DUK-DUK.
a Ceremony Peculiar to the Natives o.
the New Britain Islands

the New Britain Islands.
''The most peculiar ceremony practiced by
the natives has rarely been witnessed by q
white man." said az traveller from the New
Britain Islands toa San Francisco Chronicle
reporter. II saw one last year, and l will
endeavor to describe the incidents of the
performance and its meanings The dul1-dull
is supposed TO be Il spirit which makes IT'S APP
pearance at daybreak of the day ON which
the new moon appears 1t invariably
comes from the sea, and, as it is daylight,
two or three canoes with a platform upon
them, are seen coming to the shore. The
entire male community OF the village awaits
the coming on the beach seated i'll silence
On the platform are two men leaping and
shouting and crying out in shrill tones.
They wear a loose robe of leaves woven
together and reaching to the knees On
their heads are conical-shapel hats, some six
feet high, from the rims Of which are hung
masks, entirely conceahlg the features. The
masks have honIble-lOokng' faces painted
upon them. The lower portions of the legs
are alone visible. AS the dress is supposed
to represent a cassowMy, or New Guinea
ostrich, with human mead, the figures upon
landing execute q series of hopping steDS in
imitation of the bird. Meanwhile the hit
tiVes appear TO be frightened. Theduk-du!i
Is TO stay in the village Il fortnight, and dur
Ing that period he is at liberty to do what
ever he p.eases No woman is allowed to
look at him. In fact, as soon as the canoe
was sighted the women ali ran away 20 the
bush. After dancing snort tine the duil-
duh goes into thU Jungle and the natives
move oil slowly to their houses.
In the evening immense quantities of
cocoanutS, vans, t2ro, and other food are
piled in the center of the village square
As each man brings his contribution The
duk-duk dauces around him. If satisfied.
be utters a shrill cry;it displeased, the inli
vidum receives q tremendous blow with a
club After these food offerings are con
cluded the ceremonies begin A large bum
die of canes about six feet long and as thick
rs ones little finger We're brought. Five or
six young men jumped up. and. holding
their arms high above their heads, received
heavy blows from this bundle of canes,
which were welded 10y the duk-duk. The
canes curled around the bodies and at each
stroke drew blood. Other men took their
places, going through the same ordeal
Sometimes the duk-duk would vary the per
Torrance by striking with his club. The
ceremonies were repeated for ten days and
then the diLl-duks took their departure. |
believe Che origin and meaning Of these pc
cullar ceremonies are that the Old natives
hold power over the young men The duk-
duk Is always said to belong To some old
man who summons It out of the sea. No
one knows who is actually dancing in dis
guise, but they do know that II the old
men have ordered the duli-duk 10 kin any
individual the command will be obcvsd
without interference from any one Again
the old men having become decrepit cannot
work in their gardens, and the piles of food
offered to the spirit come into their posses
sion